DHCP Setup: DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) is required by default by Tivo 3.0 software. A DHCP server will automatically assign an IP address to the Tivo and allow LAN and Network access. Software and Hardware solutions are listed.
Dynamic DNS Setup to access your LAN away from home: Instruction on how to setup your LAN so that you can locate the current dynamic IP address of your home Internet connection. This allows you to connect remotely to access Tivoweb and other applications. When setup properly, this is secure.
Accessing your Tivo Away from Home
Subjective Comparison Chart
Method
Tivoweb Access
Telnet Access
Easy Install
Corp Firewall Compat
Security
Cost
Open Firewall Port
A
A
A
A
F*
B
HTTP Proxy
A+
F
B
A
A/C**
A
WinXP Remote Desktop
C
B
B
C
B
C
VNC
C
B
A
C
B
A
SSH
C
B
D
D
A
A
VPN
C
B
C
C
A
C
*Rating of "C" if IP address allowed for incoming connections is limited in Firewall/Router settings.
**Rating of "A" if SSL encryption is used, "C" if not.
Open Firewall Port to Tivo: This section explains how to directly access your networked Tivo from the internet. It is very risky to simply allow a direct connection to your Tivo. The method can be made more secure by adding passwords to tivoweb, changing the port number from the default, and limiting the range of IP addresses that can connect to the firewall/router. Please note that even though this is the easiest method, it is certanly not the most secure. The other options listed below are preferable.
HTTP Proxy Server Installation:
Step-by-step instructions on how to install the SSL proxy server on your Windows PC and allow authenticated and encrypted access to the tivoweb web server.
Windows XP Professional Remote Desktop:
The Remote Desktop feature of the Windows XP Professional allows a remote connection to your home PC. You will view the desktop of the home PC and control all mouse and keyboard actions. This will allow you to open a broswer window to tivoweb, telnet to your tivo, ftp to your tivo, etc on your home PC from a remote location. These connections will take place on your home LAN between your home PC and Tivo and will not be visible to anyone outside of your firewall.
Virtual Network Computing
Virtual Network Computing is an open-source and cross-platform protocol that allows a remote connection to your home PC. It also will run a basic webserver, allowing a VNC connection to your home PC using an Java-capable web broswer. This will allow you to open a broswer window to tivoweb, telnet to your tivo, ftp to your tivo, etc on your home PC from a remote location. These connections will take place on your home LAN between your home PC and Tivo and will not be visible to anyone outside of your firewall.
SSH Connections:
A Secure SHell connection is probably the most secure free connecton method to your LAN. SSH encrypts all data, uses public key / private key encryption, and offers secur logins. SSH allows terminal windows based connections and also allows port forwarding, acting as Virtual Private Network. This allows the remote pc to connect to port 80 on tivo by passing data through the SSH connection. A SSH server is required on your LAN and an SSH client is required on the remote PC
Virtual Private Network Connections and Hardware Routers:
VPN is a very good solution, especially if you have a firewall / router with an integrated VPN server. You install an IPSec VPN client on the remote PC and make a secure, encrypted connection to your firewall/router. You can also install a VPN server on your home network. You will then have full access to all devices on you home LAN.
